Star of the South (1888/06/25)
Koombana Bay, in mouth of estuary
Length: 36 ft (11 m)/ 46.7 ft (14.2 m) after refit
Breadth: 11.08 ft (3.4 m)/ 12.5 ft (3.8 m) after refit
Depth: 4.37 ft (1.3 m)/ 5.3 ft (1.62 m) after refit
Tonnage: 9.39/ 12.35 after refit
Star of the South was built at Bunbury by James Dagley Gibbs for James Moore of Bunbury (32 shares) and Maurice Coleman Davies, a prominent timber merchant (32 shares). The cutter had one deck and a square stern. In April 1883 the vessel underwent a refit, during which it was lengthened, the stern changed to a counter, the tonnage increased, and afterwards the vessel was reregistered. In January 1884 Davies sold his half share to Moore. On 12 June 1885, during the gale that also stranded the Paragon, the cutter was driven ashore near the Busselton Jetty. It was refloated and repaired.
The Star of the South was being used to bring guano from Lancelin and Wedge islands (often referred to at the time as the Guano Islands), and had arrived in Bunbury in the evening of 23 June 1888 with 15 tons of guano on board.
THE LOSS
The Star of the South was at anchor at Bunbury when, on 25 June 1888, a fierce gale struck from the north. With waves breaking over the jetty the cutter parted its cables and blew onto the bar of the Leschenault Inlet where, with the wind continuing and a falling barometer, it was wrecked.
Ship Built
Owner Maurice Coleman Davies, Adelaide timber merchant, James Moore, Bunbury auctioneer and shipping agent
Builder James Dagley Gibbs
Country Built WA
Port Built Bunbury
Port Registered Fremantle
When Built 1875
Ship Lost
Gouped Region South-West-Coast
Sinking Cable parted in gale
When Lost 1888/06/25
Where Lost Koombana Bay, in mouth of estuary
Port From Lancelin, Wedge Island
Port To Bunbury
Cargo Guano 15 Tons
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 14.20
Beam 3.80
TONA 12.00
Draft 1.60
Museum Reference
Official Number 75297
Unique Number 521
Sunk Code Wrecked and sunk
File Number 405/71
Chart Number 115
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO